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Florida Sues Data Broker Over Sale of Phone Records

February 27, 2006

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A Florida company, Global Information Group, Inc., has been charged with unlawfully obtaining and selling confidential telephone records without the knowledge of the consumers whose records were being sold.

It's Florida Attorney General's second legal action aimed at illegal data sales this month.

Crist's case alleges that Global obtained information by impersonating either customers or telephone company employees in order to obtain consumers' personal calling information.

Global, of Temple Terrace, Fla., is accused of providing its customers with confidential telephone calling records of unsuspecting consumers. Laurie Misner, 43, and Edward Herzog, 48, are named as the principals of Global.

"This is yet another outrageous example of invading an individual's privacy for financial gain," said Crist. "Floridians deserve to be able to keep their private, personal phone records between themselves and those who provide that service."

The Attorney General's investigation has revealed that Global placed thousands of calls from its Temple Terrace headquarters seeking unauthorized customer information from several phone companies serving customers throughout the United States, including some in Florida. The information was then sold to Global customers who allegedly used the information for their own purposes.

The state is seeking civil penalties for violations of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act and civil conspiracy laws, as well as a permanent injunction stopping Global from obtaining or selling any more personal calling records and requiring the company to return any of the personal records in its possession.

Penalties are $10,000 per violation, $15,000 if a senior citizen or disabled person was victimized. Total penalties will be determined at a later date.

Global has been the subject of two previous cases relating to conduct concerning T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless customers and information. Crist's lawsuit seeks relief for all Florida consumers with wireless and landline telephone numbers and for all telephone companies serving Florida customers.

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